News

Bay Area native Sterling Moore bids to make Raiders as undrafted free-agent cornerback

By Jerry McDonald jmcdonald@bayareanewsgroup.com

Posted:
08/31/2011 06:49:37 PM PDT

Updated:
09/01/2011 07:03:44 AM PDT

There's enough anxiety in being an undrafted free agent without getting caught up in the numbers game.

So Sterling Moore simply won't play.

"I don't want to put any more pressure on myself than there already is," Moore said. "I feel better when I'm relaxed, so I try not to think about everything that's going on. The only thing I can control is how I do on the field."

Moore, a cornerback out of SMU by way of Laney College and Antioch's Deer Valley High School, has inserted himself into the mix to have a shot at the 53-man roster or practice squad with his play during training camp and the preseason.

"I think I've done everything I can," Moore said. "Of course, I've had some errors here and there. But I think that's common with any rookie. I feel I went out there and performed."

The Raiders must cut 26 players on Saturday after playing their final exhibition game Friday night at the Seattle Seahawks to reach the 53-man limit (with quarterback Terrelle Pryor moving to the suspended list).

The Raiders could keep as few as five or as many as seven corners, depending on how many safeties are included in the secondary.

Moore came on the Raiders' radar during a Pro Day at the team facility, and they were in contact with him during the draft.

Advertisement

"Before their last pick came in, they called me and said, 'We're going to go in a different direction, but we definitely have our eye on you, and we want to communicate with you when all this is settled,' " Moore said.

Moore is probably the only Raider who wasn't overly surprised at the development of fellow rookie Taiwan Jones, as the two were high school teammates at Deer Valley.

"I mean, all these guys are like, 'No. 36 is fast, he's got all these moves,' " Moore said. "To me, he was doing that in high school. So you can only imagine what it looked like then."

Raiders coach Hue Jackson came to the podium after practice conceding he wasn't in a great mood, although he wasn't specific as to the reason. "He didn't like how we practiced," defensive tackle Tommy Kelly said. "And he told us very clearly."

The Raiders claimed linebacker Jeremy Leman off waivers from the San Diego Chargers. With Travis Goethel on injured reserve and Sam Williams missing the past three days of practice, they are thin at middle linebacker.

Safety Zac Etheridge, out with a knee injury, was waived/injured and will probably be placed on injured reserve if he goes unclaimed.

Leman, who has been in camps with Minnesota and Carolina, played for defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan with the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League.

Tight end Kevin Boss, recovering from a sprained MCL, said he is doing some light jogging and that the plan is to be ready for the opener on Sept. 12.

Boss was injured in the Raiders' second exhibition game against the 49ers.

"It's definitely frustrating, but trying to look at the bright side of it, it could have been a lot worse," Boss said. "Luckily my leg wasn't planted."

Jackson said he remains undecided as to whether Pryor will face Seattle at quarterback.